Blagojevich Corruption Case Goes to the Jury

Attorneys made their closing arguments in the corruption case against former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and the case is expected to go to the jury today:

Jurors are expected to begin their deliberations Wednesday after they are instructed on the law by U.S. District Judge James Zagel, who has presided over the trial, the second of a former Illinois governor in four years. Blagojevich’s brother, Robert, who ran the Friends of Blagojevich campaign fund in the waning months of 2008, is also on trial.

In the second day of closing arguments, the two lawyers described Blagojevich in terms both starkly different and opposite from normal expectations. It was Adam who often seemed to diss his own client, while Schar found himself praising the former governor’s skills.

Adam found Blagojevich “insecure,” “silly” and “not the sharpest knife in the drawer.” Schar said Blagojevich was a “practiced communicator,” good enough to be twice elected governor of the nation’s fifth-largest state and skilled at the art of pitching his desires without being overtly blatant.

If felony—half-wit were a capital crime, there’s little doubt in my mind that Blagojevich would swing. Will he be convicted? Who knows? Juries are funny and I haven’t heard all of the testimony as they have.

I sincerely believe that Rod Blagojevich is corrupt; I have always thought so, since before he was elected to a governor’s mansion he never lived in. Whether the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt is another question. The defense appears to be using the Gyp Watson defense (from Destry Rides Again): he ain’t got the brains to be bad.